How far is Gainesville, FL from Melbourne, FL?

The driving distance from Gainesville, FL to Melbourne, FL is about 174 miles (280.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 150.1 miles (241.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 56m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
174.06 mi
03h 28m
Flight
150.09 mi
241.54 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Gainesville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
150.09 mi
Kilometers
241.54 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
174.06 mi
Kilometers
280.13 km
Drive Time
03h 28m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Melbourne
Thu, Apr 23, 10:10 AM EDT
Return by in Gainesville
Thu, Apr 23, 1:38 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Gainesville
2026-04-23T06:42
Arrive Melbourne
Thu, Apr 23, 10:10 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 AM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:04 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Gainesville
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ferndale
FL

Town in Lake County, Florida, United States

From Gainesville
87.1 mi
01h 44m
To Melbourne
87 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
86°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 8 mph SE
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Gainesville and Melbourne.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Gainesville and Melbourne.

  1. 1

    Start on South Main Street

    2510 ft · 1 min · South Main Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Main Street

    45 m · 3 sec · South Main Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street

    1332 ft · 33 sec · South Main Street

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Main Street

    18 m · 1 sec · South Main Street

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto South Main Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Southwest Williston Road

    2572 ft · 54 sec · Southwest Williston Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    807 ft · 23 sec · South Main Street

  8. 8

    Turn straight

    2000 ft · 34 sec

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    7 mi · 8 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    3212 ft · 47 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Southeast County Road 234

    1.4 mi · 3 min · Southeast County Road 234

  12. 12

    Take the ramp left toward I 75 South: Tampa

    1148 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    46.2 mi · 50 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando

    63.9 mi · 1 hr 9 min · Florida's Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward US 192, ​US 441: Kissimmee, ​Saint Cloud

    2873 ft · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on US 192 East, US 441 South: Saint. Cloud, Orlando Health Saint Cloud Hospital

    54 m · 6 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Bronson Highway

    3.4 mi · 5 min · Bronson Highway

  18. 18

    Continue on East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway

    679 ft · 15 sec · East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on 13th Street

    2.6 mi · 5 min · 13th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway

    1.4 mi · 2 min · East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway

  21. 21

    Continue on Bronson Highway

    33.8 mi · 41 min · Bronson Highway

  22. 22

    Continue straight

    8.2 mi · 13 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto South Babcock Street

    1380 ft · 40 sec · South Babcock Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto East Fee Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Fee Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn left onto Waverly Place

    693 ft · 31 sec · Waverly Place

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Waverly Place

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Gainesville and Melbourne.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
26 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
1 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 75 South
46.4 mi · 27%
Bronson Highway
45.4 mi · 26%
Florida's Turnpike
32 mi · 18%
Florida's Turnpike South
32 mi · 18%
South Main Street
10.1 mi · 6%
13th Street
2.57 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Florida's Turnpike

Take the exit slight left toward Florida's Turnpike South, Orlando

63.9 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 28m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.9 mi
150.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ferndale
01h 44m from Gainesville
Leave By
10:04 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Gainesville and Mostly Sunny near Melbourne.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Gainesville to Melbourne?

The road trip is about 174 miles (280.1 km) and usually takes 03h 28m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ferndale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 87.1 miles from Gainesville and 87 miles from Melbourne.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 150.1 miles (241.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:04 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.47 one way or $50.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Gainesville and Mostly Sunny near Melbourne.

Stop Ideas Near Ferndale

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Ferndale and the surrounding midpoint area.
Windermere Town Hall
Scenic stop 14.5 mi away

Windermere Town Hall

Windermere , FL
520 Main St, Windermere, FL 34786
Rating 4.5/5 17 reviews Historical place
Minneola City Hall
Meeting point 2 mi away

Minneola City Hall

Minneola , FL
800 US-27, Minneola, FL 34715
Rating 4.4/5 28 reviews City Hall
Stop photo coming soon
Nearby stop 13.1 mi away

Tavares Utility Billing

Tavares , FL
Tapes City Hall, 201 E Main St, Tavares, FL 32778
Rating 1.3/5 12 reviews Water utility company
City of Tavares - City Hall
Scenic stop 13.1 mi away

City of Tavares - City Hall

Tavares , FL
115E W Main St, Tavares, FL 32778
Rating 5.0/5 1 reviews Parking lot

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ferndale.

RAIL

Orlando Health/Amtrak

33 mi away
1400 Sligh Blvd.
RAIL

Winter Park

34 mi away
150 West Morse Blvd
BUS

The Villages-Lady Lake, FL

42 mi away
401 North US Highway 441
OTHER

Wildwood, Florida

43 mi away
601 North Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Gainesville and Melbourne. Straight-line distance: 150.09 mi (241.54 km).

Gainesville

#1 Gainesville

The third most populous city in Florida.

Population135,004
Coordinates29.6516300, -82.3248300
Altitude54
CountryUnited States
Melbourne

#2 Melbourne

The most populous city in Brevard County, Florida.

Population83,376
Coordinates28.0836300, -80.6081100
Altitude6
CountryUnited States
Start: Gainesville (-82.32483, 29.65163)
End: Melbourne (-80.60811, 28.08363)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 280 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 10m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.14 gal
23.25 L · about $25.47
Round trip
$50.94
12.28 gal · 46.5 L
Estimated CO2
54.6 kg one way
Round trip: 109.1 kg / 241 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.15 $25.47 $50.94
Mid-grade $4.60 $28.22 $56.44
Premium $4.90 $30.06 $60.12
Diesel $4.35 $26.71 $53.42

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Florida · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Gainesville and Melbourne. The current time is 06:42:04.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.